I’m all for flat shoes integrating back into the fashion loop but I am going to suggest that Pool Sliders are taking things a little too far…

In life there are types of shoes that are just made for certain people. Take Manolo Blahniks and Carrie Bradshaw, for example. A beautiful match made in shoe heaven combined with a New York City sidewalk. When I imagine a Pool Slider’s match however, all that springs to mind is a balding middle aged man and white sports socks.

So why and how have these ugly pieces of plastic become the It shoe of high fashion? Phoebe Philo is somewhat to blame after her ‘Firkenstock’ creation for Chloe S/S 13. Little Ailia Wang somehow looked adorable and chic all at the same time in a pair last year and, like all mini style icons, made the fashion world fierce with envy. How can someone be so small and carry off a pair of pool slides for god’s sake?! Then came the piece de resistance – Freja Erichsen for Vogue UK (January 2014) wearing the Nike Benassi. Makes them sound somewhat exotic doesn’t it? It is always true to state that once you’re in Vogue, you’ve made it and it’s true, pool slides had slid back into the fashion circle. Sportswear has taken a huge rise this year in its influence on footwear especially. I now feel completely comfortable and kinda ‘cool’ when I pop to Tesco with my Adidas gym shoes on – an act I wouldn’t dream of doing a year ago. As Summer is here, it was pretty inevitable that the sports craze would spread to sandals. Embrace it you say? I’ll try. But I cross the line at socks too.

I have a feeling this trend won’t stick around for too long and they’ll be back in campsite shop bargain bins soon enough. Until then, the High Street have actually succeeded in creating some pretty appealing options…

Top Left Clockwise: White Leather Poolslides, £38, Topshop; Pale Blue Double Band Poolslides, £75, Whistles; Yellow ID tag Poolslides, £28, River Island; Harbour White and Blue Poolslides, £45, Office